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Moving sucks. Packing, moving boxes around, cleaning… all that stuff is the worst.

UNLESS you can trick a band into doing it for you. Which I did.

Well, if the music thing doesn’t work out, at least they’ve got a future in the NBA.

Fortunately, that music thing is going just fine.

Their new album, White Paint is out today! You can grab it (and you really, really should) RIGHT HERE!

To taste it before you buy it, here’s their first single from the record, “Pick Me Up”… accompanied by a video that you should only watch in the company of a close and trusted friend, in a space that won’t freak you out and give you a bad trip.

Hollerado heads out on tour this March with Billy Talent, Sum 41 and Indian Handcrafts. For more, check out hollerado.com.

It’s been nearly a year since Rain’s World got off the ground with a visit from Tokyo Police Club. When they came in for that episode, I’ll admit that I really didn’t know what we were going to do. Or how we were going to do it. All I had was a case of beer, a bunch of bread and cheese being cooked up by my sister Anne, and my friend Andrew holding a camera.

Fortunately, Dave, Graham and Greg of Tokyo made things easy and fun, and although the final video was a whopping 7-something minutes long, the first episode of Rain’s World was REAL! It was happening! It existed, and it was actually FUNNY.

I’d been so nervous to start a blog. Especially one focused on music. Because, let’s be honest: the internet probably doesn’t need a new music blog. But I felt like we had something new and different and special. And, I think we still do.

In 2012 we welcomed guests like the Darcys, Pack A.D., Brendan Canning, Parlovr, The Elwins, and so many more.

2013’s first episode will be a band that’s VERY familiar to readers of this blog. Here’s a hint: their name starts with an “H” and they like horses. And balloons. And ostriches. Watch for that video, coming soon.

We have so many more bands to look forward to, too. Lots of your favourites. We’ve worked out some kinks and we’re going to try to speed up production and make sure episodes come out more consistently.

As always, if you are IN a band, or you represent one, or you know one, or you’re just a fan of one and would love to see them on the show, please contact me.

And, as some final exciting news for the coming year, I will be hosting weekends on CBC Radio 3 indefinitely. I’d love if you’d come by and take a listen, we’re going to have the best time.

So, thank you, to the bands who have visited, to my wonderful and always flexible camera crew, my fantastic, hard-working, and endlessly accommodating editor, to all of my friends who have helped out, and of course, to Steam Whistle Brewing, who make so much of this possible!

But most importantly: THANK YOU. Thank you for visiting this site, for watching the videos, for following along, for being a part of Rain’s World, and supporting this project, for supporting me, and for supporting music in 2012.

You like piñatas. You like burgers. You like fun party rockers Brews Willis.

You will like this episode of Rain’s World.

Now, to get that dry burger taste out of your mouth- and to make you nostalgic for the island and summertime and beach parties- here is the Brews Willis track “Ride the Island Baby” from their album Nerped By A Zircon.(Toronto residents, keep your eyes open for some familiar summertime sights!)

(This entry is part of an ongoing guest blog series I am writing for Aux and LCBO’s Whisky Rocks.)

For my second stand-out entry in LCBO’s Whisky Rocks contest, we’re going to slow things down a bit. So, get that special tattooed, lip-ringed someone, hold them close, and get ready for sway-inducing “O’Brother” by The Snips.

The Snips are first-and-foremost a punk band, which you can definitely hear in frontman Ricky Pridmore’s voice, but this song is a slow build, featuring a melancholy trumpet riff, and lyrics about lost love. Around the 3 minute mark, things start to speed up and intensify, culminating in a storm of instrumentation topped off with Pridmore’s punk scream to remind you that this isn’t just some “emo” tune.

The Snips have been around in various incarnations for about 10 years, which is more than enough time to perfect their live show. Expect sweaty dudes. A lot of arms pumping the air during the important parts. And moshing.

And this song, “O’Brother,” isn’t the only song from their new album to have get a video – they actually got 10 different directors to shoot a video for each of their 10 new songs. So, not only are they getting their music out there in a creative way, they’re giving people in other creative fields a chance to express themselves, too.

Back in an earlier entry, I mentioned that catchiness is one of the most important things that makes me perk up when hear a new song for the first time. I love it when a song hooks me in from the get go – or at the very least, by the first chorus. Whatever, man, I’m kind of easy that way- get my attention early on, and I’m much more likely to climb aboard. Even better? Have me singing your tune to myself after it’s over.

That’s exactly what happened when I played Hey Brother’s track “Chameleon” for the first time. Not only is the video adorably DIY and full of fun dancing, I think I actually know all the words after listening to it six times. And that’s not a jab at their lyrics – that’s a compliment to their hookiness. “Chameleon” is one of those songs that you wish was longer, so you press play again as soon as it’s over.

This band sounds like they’re having fun, and from the video, they look like they’re having fun, too. These guys are performers, not just musicians. The kind of band that really proves how great they are when they’re in front of a crowd. And they’re the kind of band that wakes a crowd up and gets them moving, perfect for opening a show.

(This entry is part of an ongoing guest blog series I am doing for Aux.tv and LCBO’s Whisky Rocks.)

I almost never arrive at concerts early. It’s not my fault! Really! I just have a hard time getting out the door in time, and HELLO, has anyone here tried to get anywhere on the TTC ever? EVER? You can’t. Sorry.

The only time I see more than one band at a show is when I go FOR the opener, or it’s a festival. Can you call a band an opener if it’s a festival? Sure!

The year was 2008. It was an overcast July afternoon that happened to also be my sister’s birthday. As her gift, I bought her a ticket to the Rogers Picnic at Toronto’s Historic Fort York. The line-up included such acts as Born Ruffians, Vampire Weekend, Chromeo, Tokyo Police Club and City & Colour- but for me, the most memorable set of the day was Animal Collective. We weren’t there to see Animal Collective- but when they played at 4pm in the afternoon, and for me, they stole the show.

(Let me clarify beforehand – the line to the beer tent was long. The line to buy the tickets was longer. The line to actually buy beer was the longest of all [surprise!] – so I was completely sober and clear minded when Animal Collective played their set.)

I’d heard of Animal Collective before, but I’d never seen them. And I had never listened to their music much. Their set at the Rogers Picnic that day changed everything. Their set was hypnotic, transcendent, beautiful and weird – and on top of that, only half of the band was actually there – Panda Bear and Avey Tare (and Avey Tare’s bright red bucket hat)! They were amazing. I felt transported and float-y, despite of the mud and rain and lack of beer.

I was completely immersed and, subsequently, won over. After that show, I dove headfirst into their discography, and they’re now one of my favourite bands. I’ve seen them multiple times, I’ve actually purchased their records (with real money, people!) and they opened my ears to a style of music I’d previously let go unexplored. It was a wonderful example of what can happen if you get to a show early and give the bands you don’t know a good listen and a fair chance!

And if you’d like YOUR band to be the act someone discovers by surprise, you should enter for a chance to open for The Trews! Right now!

To enter the Whisky Rocks Showdown Competition, upload your original music demo to the Whisky Rocks Showdown Competition at WhiskyRocks.com between September 17 at 10:15 a.m. EST and October 19 at 4:15 p.m. EST. The LCBO will review each entry and if it meets all guidelines and requirements, the song will be posted on WhiskyRocks.com where friends, family, and the general public can vote between October 23 at 10:15 a.m. EST and November 1 at 4:15 p.m. EST. The top 3 finalists with the most votes will be announced on November second, and will win a slot to open for The Trews on November 8th in Barrie, ON, where a panel of judges and the Trews will then select one winner. The winners will be announced at whiskyrocks.com on November 9th.

Tickets to the Trews show and Whisky tasting cost $25 and are available online at ticketbreak.com, by phone at 1-866-943-8849, at impactlive.ca ticket outlets, or at the door. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit Dixon Hall, a United Way member agency and its Music School program, which provides youth with music instruction and opportunities to attend music camps across Ontario.

Concertgoers must be 19 years of age or older and valid ID is required.